The sky was a pale gray, thick clouds sprawling chaotically across it, not a trace of blue to be seen. Below this dreary canopy stood towering mountains draped in dark green. At their feet lay a forest of deep emerald, and closer still spread vast grasslands painted in deep yellow, pale gold, and verdant green, dotted with flowers of various hues.
A pale gray road stretched before her.
A drizzle fell from the sky as the wind began to pick up. Several sheep grazed by the roadside, undeterred by the weather, lifting their heads to gaze at You Mingxu.
You Mingxu hadn’t expected Tibet to be this cold in June. She wore only waterproof pants with a T-shirt under her windbreaker. Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, tucked beneath her helmet. Despite the cold seeping into her body, she maintained a steady pace on her mountain bike.
Not another soul could be seen in any direction.
She glanced at the sky again, then checked her watch. Perhaps it was time to find a place to rest for the day.
This region was remote, sparsely populated, and visited mostly by adventure tourists. She rode on for a while longer. It was past four in the afternoon now, the sky growing darker, the mountainside shrouded in gloom. The raindrops were getting larger.
Tired and hungry, You Mingxu parked her bicycle by the roadside, pulled out some chocolate and sausage from her backpack, and ate slowly.
During her fifteen-minute break, only one car passed by. It was an old vehicle with local plates, driven by a middle-aged man. You Mingxu waved for a ride, but he drove past as if he hadn’t seen her.
You Mingxu didn’t mind, leaning against a tree by the road, continuing to eat her cold sausage.
A little while later, a motorcycle approached from afar, carrying a long-haired young man. You Mingxu watched silently as he drew near. The rider had tanned skin and wore a denim jacket. His face bore a crafty look, and his eyes kept roving over her.
He stopped beside her bike, stared at her for a moment, and asked, “Where are you headed?”
You Mingxu heard the sound of another car approaching and glanced back. Through the misty rain, she could see headlights but couldn’t make out the driver.
She jerked her chin forward, indicating her direction to the motorcyclist.
“Traveling alone?” he asked.
You Mingxu smiled and replied, “No, I have some companions behind. I just rode ahead of them.”
The young man’s gaze deepened, and he fell silent, his hand resting on the motorcycle’s handlebar, motionless. The car behind them passed by at a steady, unhurried pace. You Mingxu looked past the motorcyclist through the rain-streaked window and saw a young man. His skin was fair, his features unlike those of locals. He had close-cropped hair and distinct features. He too wore a windbreaker, black, with his neck and Adam’s apple visible above the slightly upturned collar. He was handsome, with a kind of hard, masculine appeal.
The motorcyclist also turned to study the driver for a moment, his face expressionless.
You Mingxu grabbed her bicycle’s handlebar, ready to quickly mount and leave. But the motorcyclist, perhaps from his experience herding sheep or hunting—or similar activities—reacted just as swiftly, leaning over to grab her handlebar while reaching for her backpack with his other hand.
A robber, after all.
You Mingxu glared at him fiercely, gritting her teeth as she tried to break free. They immediately began to struggle. The car ahead had already driven more than a hundred meters away, likely unaware of the situation behind. You Mingxu steeled herself, clutching her backpack, and shouted, “Let go! Let me go! Help! Robbery! Help!”
The motorcyclist’s face turned vicious as he swung a punch at You Mingxu’s face, snarling, “Want to die? Shut up!” You Mingxu managed to dodge awkwardly. He grabbed her wrist instead, but paused, surprised by the soft, smooth feel of her skin. Taking a closer look at her features, his heart skipped a beat.
With blood rushing to his head, the young man’s intentions turned darker. He abandoned his motorcycle, no longer interested in the bag, and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her toward the trees. His face twisted into a leering smile as he said, “Why are you running? I won’t rob you anymore. It’s dangerous for a girl to travel alone in this weather. Let me take you somewhere safe, okay?”
His tone had turned lecherous as he began to grope her. You Mingxu understood all too well, filled with disgust and contempt. But her situation was truly dire. While struggling desperately to resist, she screamed with all her might, “Brother in the car with plate number Sichuan AXXXXX, help! Someone’s trying to rob and rape me! Help!”
The motorcyclist grew annoyed, turning his head to look back, only to realize the car had stopped ahead. In his moment of hesitation, You Mingxu broke free and ran. He cursed under his breath and was about to chase her when he saw the car make a U-turn. A sharp horn blast pierced the air as the car drove straight toward them.
You Mingxu stumbled forward a few steps, looked up, and saw the black sedan was only about ten meters away. The driver’s eyes were fixed on her, alert and determined. His hand remained on the steering wheel, the horn continuing to blast through the curtain of rain, echoing across the entire grassland.
You Mingxu’s heart warmed, an inexplicable sense of safety washing over her. She thought she saw him nod at her as the car accelerated toward them.
Looking back, she saw the young man jump on his motorcycle and speed away.
You Mingxu stood like a wooden post, clutching her backpack.
The rain had grown heavier without anyone noticing, drumming against the ground and his car. He braked sharply and stepped out. Despite the dark sky and layered rainfall creating a gray, blurry world around and beyond them, You Mingxu could see him now. He was about 180 centimeters tall, wearing outdoor gear, with a solid build and clean, gentle features.
He glanced at You Mingxu, then looked several times in the direction the motorcycle had gone, a fierce expression briefly crossing his face before he quickly composed himself. Turning back to her, he asked, “Are you alright? Are you… hurt?”
You Mingxu shook her head. “I’m fine. Thank you… thank you for turning back. If it weren’t for you, I would have been done for.”
He smiled gently.
He hadn’t expected the girl he’d stopped to help would be so strikingly beautiful. Even against such a dreary backdrop, her face was enough to catch anyone’s eye. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before quickly moving away as he asked, “Do you have any other companions you need to contact?”
You Mingxu replied, “I’m alone now. I had a friend with me, but she had to return home yesterday for a family emergency. I wanted to finish the remaining journey.”
The man said nothing, casually tapping his hand on the car door. You Mingxu watched water droplets silently sliding down his lean, defined hand.
He asked, “Can you continue riding alone? Do you need to call the police?”
You Mingxu lowered her head slightly, looking at his boots. His weatherproof pants were tucked into them, creating sharp, handsome lines. She answered, “Could I get a ride with you to somewhere safe up ahead? I really can’t ride anymore, and I don’t want to.”
The man fell silent for a moment.
You Mingxu looked up to see him frown slightly, his expression somewhat reluctant. But his brow quickly smoothed as he said, “Alright.”
You Mingxu smiled at him. “Thank you! I really can’t thank you enough for today!”
Rain continued to fall from the sky, creating a misty curtain around the slender woman. He observed her clear, expressive eyes, delicate nose, and full red lips that held a natural sensuality when she smiled. It had been a long time since he’d been close to a woman, and after a few glances, he felt an inexplicable restlessness. When she looked his way, he had already averted his improper male gaze.
He drove an ordinary sedan. “The trunk is full of luggage,” he said, helping You Mingxu secure her bicycle to the car’s roof.
A fierce storm was approaching.
Black clouds pressed down on the mountain peaks. The world turned dim and hazy, with only the thunderous sound of rain outside the car. The previously colorful Tibetan landscape seemed to lose its vibrancy in an instant, leaving only darkness that threatened to swallow everything, severely limiting visibility.
He drove slowly, occasionally passing other vehicles. The car’s heater was on, and after removing her jacket to sit in her fitted long-sleeve shirt, You Mingxu soon felt warmth returning to her body.
She stole glances at him as he seemed focused on driving. Having been caught in the rain earlier, he had also removed his jacket, revealing a dark gray long-sleeve shirt that suited him well.
After a while, he asked, “Mind if I smoke? I’m a bit tired.”
You Mingxu replied, “Not at all. Could I have one too?”
He looked at her with slight surprise, amusement in his eyes. He reached for the center console and found a half-empty pack of cigarettes. You Mingxu, always tactful, took the pack and offered him one first.
He accepted it, saying, “Thanks.”
You Mingxu put one between her lips, and he found his lighter, lit his own, and then passed it to her. She handled the cigarette with practiced ease, smoking slowly. Though they still didn’t talk much, the atmosphere felt more familiar and comfortable than when she’d first gotten in the car.
He said, “Gu Tiancheng. My name is Gu Tiancheng.”
“You Mingxu.” She glanced at the rain outside again. “If I hadn’t met you, I don’t know what sorry state I’d be in right now.”
The corner of his mouth curved upward. “It’s nothing.”
You Mingxu asked, “What do you do?”
Gu Tiancheng answered, “IT. You?”
You Mingxu: “Fashion. I’m a clothing designer.”
Gu Tiancheng smiled, saying softly, “No wonder you look so good.”
You Mingxu heard clearly but stayed quiet, unsure whether he meant her or her clothes looked good. He also fell silent, as if he hadn’t said anything. After they finished their cigarettes, the rain had lessened somewhat. She looked at the darkened sky and asked, “How long until we can find a place to rest?”
He said, “I’m not sure. But I remember from a couple of years ago, after about an hour’s drive, we should see some Tibetan homes.”
You Mingxu said, “Okay.” She hugged herself, leaning back in the car seat. After a while, she wiped her face and pressed her forehead.
Gu Tiancheng noticed and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you alright?”
Then he heard her voice, muffled as she buried her face in her arms: “I’m fine. Just thinking about what happened earlier. Still a bit scared.”
Her voice was steady, with a hint of self-mockery in its calmness, and a trace of barely concealed vulnerability. Earlier, Gu Tiancheng had thought this woman extraordinarily brave and composed. She hadn’t broken down or made a scene after getting in the car, smoking and chatting with him normally. He hadn’t expected that after all this time, the fear would finally catch up with her, revealing at last some of the fragility natural to a woman.
Glancing sideways, he saw her long hair had come loose, falling in slight waves, thick and black. Her small face was hidden behind her arms, below which was a slender waist and long legs. Her chest curved in feminine fullness. She peered out from behind her arms, her eyes bright and flowing with light, defiant and animated.
Gu Tiancheng felt something gently pierce his heart. He looked up at the road ahead. Here, in the wilderness at the border of Sichuan and Tibet, the sky was their ceiling, the earth their bed. Far from others, far from the city, from all things ordinary, crowded, scheming, and false. Yet here he was with this woman, like drifting duckweed meeting by chance, sharing a car, sheltering from the storm, moving forward in warmth.
You Mingxu’s eyes met his. His expression remained mild, but his voice had softened: “Don’t be afraid. I’ll make sure to get you somewhere safe.”